Reinforcement and method for operating same

Abstract

A reinforcement for strengthening soil areas, ground surfaces, and in particular subsoils, and earthwork structures includes at least one reinforcement element, preferably a plurality of reinforcement elements which, in particular, intersect at an angle, wherein the at least one reinforcement element includes at least one actuator by way of which a property of the reinforcement element can be changed, and in particular at least temporarily changed. A structure on a subsoil, and in particular an earthwork structure includes the aforementioned reinforcement, and a method is provided for operating the aforementioned reinforcement.

1 . A reinforcement for strengthening soil areas, ground surfaces, subsoils, and earthwork structures, comprising at least one reinforcement element or a plurality of reinforcement elements which intersect at an angle, wherein at least one of the reinforcement elements comprises or is operatively connected to at least one actuator configured to at least temporarily change a property of the reinforcement element. 
     
     
         2 . The reinforcement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement element comprises a plurality of actuators which are disposed in sections of the at least one reinforcement element. 
     
     
         3 . The reinforcement according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the intersecting reinforcement elements comprise a plurality of cell ribs which form a lattice including a plurality of lattice cells delimited by the plurality of cell ribs, and the at least one actuator is configured to change at least temporarily at least one property of at least one of the cell ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The reinforcement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement element comprises a laid scrim or woven fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The reinforcement according to any one of  claims 1 to 4 , wherein the at least one actuator
 a. is disposed in the at least one reinforcement element or in the at least one cell rib; or   b. is formed of at least a sub-section of the at least one reinforcement element or of the at least one cell rib or neighboring separate regions of a same reinforcement element or cell rib are connected by the at least one actuator; or   c. is attached to the at least one reinforcement element or to oen of the cell ribs outside of the reinforcement element or cell rib spaced apart therefrom or in contact therewith, with a direction of action parallel to a direction of extension of the reinforcement element or of the cell rib; or   d. is disposed between neighboring reinforcement elements or cell ribs; or   e. is disposed between at least one of the reinforcement elements and an earthwork structure, in which the reinforcement element is embedded.   
     
     
         6 . The reinforcement according to any one of  claims 1 to 4 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to change at least temporarily the at least one property of the at least one reinforcement element or the at least one cell rib at least locally at the site of the at least one actuator and the at least one property comprises at least one of the following:
 a. an outer dimension in at least one direction, and/or   b. a shape and roughness or an extension direction or a curvature, and/or   c. a position relative to the environment, and/or   d. a rigidity to expansion and compression, and/or   e. a strength, and/or   f. stresses or forces generated therein, and/or   g. vibration damping thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The reinforcement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is formed by:
 a. a cylinder-piston assembly configured to be operated pneumatically or hydraulically; or   b. a linear motor; or   c. a piezoelectric element; or   d. a magnetic element or an electromagnetic element; or   e. a dielectric elastomer; or   f. an element configured to be inflatable and/or deflatable by way of a gas or a liquid.   
     
     
         8 . A reinforcement according to  claim 1 or 3 , further comprising at least one control unit and at least one sensor configured to measure and detect a state of the at least one reinforcement element or the at least one cell rib and/or of the environment thereof, the control unit being configured to activate the at least one actuator as a function of the detected state. 
     
     
         9 . The reinforcement according to  claim 8 , wherein a respective one of the sensors and a respective one of the control units is assigned to each of the actuators. 
     
     
         10 . A structure on a subsoil or an earthwork structure, wherein the structure or the subsoil thereof includes a reinforcement according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a reinforcement according to  claim 1 or 3 , wherein at least one property of at least one of the reinforcement elements or cell ribs is at least temporarily changed at least locally by the at least one actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one actuator is activated as a function of a state of the at least one reinforcement element or cell rib and/or of the environment of the reinforcement or cell rib measured by a sensor.